Compulsory Attendence in Texas
-
All children in the state of Texas who are legal residents of a school district and are six (6) years and under eighteen (18) years of age are entitled and required by state compulsory attendance law, (TX Education Code 25.085) to attend school every day that school or classes are in session. Children who are less than six years old, but enrolled in any scheduled school related program must also attend school. Students who fail to attend school without a justifiable reason commit an offense against the state and will be subject to legal action for violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law (TX Education Code 25.094) "failure to attend school". Parents who fail to make reasonable efforts to insure their children attend school will also commit an offense against the state and be subject to legal action under "thwarting compulsory attendance" (TX Education Code 25.093).
-
Under penalty of class credit, students who are scheduled to attend tutorial or extended day classes due to grade retention or non-promotion purposes must also attend classes for the duration of the program in order to receive credit.
-
Any and all unauthorized or unwarranted absences will be marked and coded as "unexcused absences" and will be regarded as violations or infractions against the student, parent or both.
-
Any student with 3 or more unexcused absences within a four (4) week period or ten (10) or more within a 6 month period will be considered in violation of the state compulsory attendance law. A notice or warning letter will be sent to the parents.
-
Students who voluntarily continue to refuse to attend school after being warned will be referred to a local Justice of Peace for possible legal action.
-
Students or parents who are prosecuted and found at fault for non-attendance may be subject to pay court fees, a fine, or whatever the court finds appropriate.
-
Students and parents may also be court ordered to participate in school sponsored corrective programs designed to recognize truancy problems and how to effectively deal with them.
-
Students who violate a court order to attend school will be regarded as "children in need of supervision" and referred to the County Juvenile Authorities.
-
Any person who voluntarily enrolls in school after the age of 18 must also attend school every day that class is in session. A person's enrollment may also be revoked for the remainder of the school year after 5 unexcused absences. A person whose enrollment is revoked will be considered a non-authorized person on school grounds.